Illawarra Diggers resident proves age is just a number at 106

“I haven’t got an ache or a pain; I have no troubles. I’ve had good health all my life and no regrets.”

On his 106th birthday, it’s an astounding statement for Illawarra Diggers Aged & Community Care resident David Napper to make.

Then again, as he makes his way unaided by a walker to the dining room for a morning tea with his family and fellow residents, it’s clear a lot about David is pretty remarkable.

Born at the end of World War One in the St George region of Sydney, David was one of seven boys, including his twin brother Arthur.

“Those were difficult times. After the war we had three years of depression,” he says.

Like so many of his peers, David’s life was characterised by hard work. His father ran a produce business, supplying poultry and horse feed and backyard supplies such as seeds and fertilisers.

He and his brothers started pitching in from a young age.

“We had vegetable gardens, fruit trees, lawns and whatnot, and all that needed tending to. You didn’t sit around; everybody had a job to do,” he says.

“Of an early morning we’d go down to the stables and feed the horses, take the rugs off. In a large family you have to do your share of work.”

It wasn’t all toil, however. David recalls a happy childhood playing cricket, flying kites and riding billy carts.

“I enjoyed school, including the one-and-a-half-hour ride each way from Rockdale to Bexley, changing trains three times,” he says.

When he was old enough, he worked in his father’s shop until he reached driving age and was able to make deliveries.

“It was a different world then – there were no cars on the roads, no aeroplanes. Deliveries were still made by horse and cart,” he says.

“I’d load deliveries up at the railway sidings and cart them about. I did a lot of heavy work at the city wharves … I think all that was really good for me.”

When World War Two began, David and his brothers were called up. He served in the Australian Army for four years.

“I didn’t like that too much, either. I got out of it alright, though. My twin brother went to New Guinea. It was a compulsory call-up. Poor food, poor weather conditions and the rest of it … When he came back he wasn’t too good. He passed on many years ago,” he says.

“I am not in favour of war. I don’t think it proves anything. We’ve had them for generations and it’s never served any purpose.”

Upon his return David went back to the industry he knew and remained in produce all his life.

As motor vehicles became more mainstream, however, the business evolved and diversified into other lines, such as food. David moved on to managing a staff of six at a store in Brighton Le Sands for his father’s business.

During this time, he met the love of his life, Edna, whom he called Peggy. The pair married in 1948, which was followed by more than five decades of marital bliss and two children.

After Peggy passed away, David grew tired of living on his own and at age 100, his son Kevin, an Illawarra local, found him a place at Illawarra Diggers Aged & Community Care.

David, a regular participant in the Diggers’ many exercise opportunities, credits his longevity to a life that’s always been characterised by physical activity.

“Exercise. It gives you an appetite and strengthens your whole body. Yes, I think it’s essential to work in some way your whole life,” he says.

“I don’t drink or smoke, either. My youngest brother took up smoking when he joined the Air Force and continued when he came out of service. Once your lungs are damaged there’s absolutely nothing they can do for you. So all you have is excruciating pain and your life’s a misery. He was the first to pass away … He didn’t want a funeral; he wanted his ashes taken up in an aircraft and scattered in the air. So that’s how it was.”

Diggers Lifestyle Manager Vikki Wilesmith says though David has always been quick to condemn smoking and espouse the virtues of exercise, there’s not a judgemental bone in his body.

“He’s amazing. A very humble man and a very kind person,” she says. “We do get close to the residents here. And while we’re not supposed to have favourites, I can say that when David leaves us, he will leave a very big hole.”